News / police
Misconduct hearing for police officer who tasered Judah Adunbi
The police officer who tasered a former race relations officer in the face in Easton will face a gross misconduct hearing in September.
PC Claire Boddie was on duty on Colston Road with another officer in January 2017 when she saw Judah Adunbi walking his dog and mistook him for a wanted man.
A video of the taser incident went viral and sparked outrage in Bristol as campaigners mobilised to demand justice for the grandfather and respected elder, who had previously acted as a police race relations adviser.
Justice for Judah protesters – including current lord mayor Cleo Lake (in sunglasses) – outside court earlier this year
Boddie has always denied any wrongdoing and was found not guilty of common assault at Salisbury Law Courts in May.
A misconduct hearing notice, published on the Avon & Somerset Constabulary website, states that Boddie first drew her taser because Adunbi (referred to in the papers as ‘a male’) was acting “hostile and aggressive” and “threatened her colleague”.
Judah Adunbi previously advised Avon & Somerset Constabulary on race relations
The misconduct hearing notice says that Boddie then believed Adunbi was becoming more compliant and holstered her weapon, but he allegedly continued to be aggressive towards both officers.
When Adunbi pushed her colleague’s hand – or arm – off him, Boddie drew her taser again.
Adunbi was allegedly moving away from her colleague with his hands by his sides when Boddie pulled the trigger of her bright yellow weapon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbG2EICp8jI
Boddie is accused of not telling the race relations campaigner she was preparing to use the taser and failing to warn him before she fired it, with one of the barbs striking Adunbi in the face.
Boddie faces a public hearing at Avon & Somerset police’s Portishead HQ on September 4 and 5.
The alleged actions constitute a breach of the standards of professional behaviour for the force and would amount to gross misconduct.
Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
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